Album Review

Gerald LeVert finished working on In My Songs prior to passing away in November 2006. He was only 40, and the cause of his death — a lethal combination of prescription and over-the-counter drugs taken for his number of ailments — is a real shame, made all the more sad because it was an accident. Needless to say, he had a lot left to give, and if there's any indicator of that, it's this album, which sits with his first three solo albums and 2004's Do I Speak for the World as one of his best. Produced entirely by LeVert and longtime associate Edwin Nicholas, the album delivers almost exactly what any fan expects. There's something for every mood, and it's a plus that there are no guest appearances to get in the way. If there is a surprise, it's that the midtempo club cuts ("DJ Don't," "Wanna Get Up with You") and stately testimonies ("What Cha Think About That," "M'Lady") either match or beat the mostly just-fine ballads. It's too bad LeVert never made an outright classic album, but several strong albums and piles of hit singles, not to mention all the work with LeVert and LSG, amounts to a great legacy.

Biography

Born: 13 July 1966 in Cleveland, OH

Genre: R&B/Soul

Years Active: '80s, '90s, '00s

A contemporary soul singer whose smooth yet robust vocals brought energy and emotion to even his most serene recordings, Gerald LeVert grew up in the shadows of his father, Eddie LeVert, Sr., of the O'Jays. As a child, his father's status in the music industry nurtured and helped prepare Gerald for his prosperous music career as a writer, arranger, producer, and performer. As Gerald was entering his adulthood, he, good friend Marc Gordon, and his brother Sean formed the trio LeVert. They recorded...